1. Tom notices that he is a lot more short of breath after he finishes a 200 meter sprint than when he jogs for 3 miles. He is confused because he feels as if he should feel more tired when he runs for a much longer distance. Explain to him why it makes sense that he is indeed more short of breath after running a sprint than jogging. Make sure to explain it using your scientific knowledge of cellular respiration.
When Tom sprints he uses energy quickly and his cells don’t have time to get enough oxygen to do chemiosmosis. So they do Lactic Acid Fermentation, which makes less ATP. But when he jogs he uses energy more slowly so he has time for cells to get oxygen to do chemiosmosis.
  1. A scientist isolates mitochondria form human cells and places them in an acid solution. The acid penetrates the intermembranous space of the mitochondria. The scientist then notices that the mitochondria start making ATP despite the fact that he is not providing any glucose for them. How is it possible that the mitochondria are still making ATP? (Think back to what an acid is, what it releases when placed in a solution and why this would make the mitochondria synthesize ATP).
The acid solution allows us to skip straight to chemiosmosis due to all the hydrogen ions. Now the hydrogen ions can go through ATP synthase and make ATP. Due to facilitated diffusion.
  1. Genetic testing reveals that baby Helen has a defective gene that results in the defective production of one of the proteins in the electron transport chain. Because of faulty instructions in her DNA, one of the proteins in her ETC is mis-shapen, and therefore it cannot perform its function as efficiently. Baby Helen is “failing to thrive” as she is having a hard time gaining weight and reaching developmental milestones. Using your knowledge of the ETC and its role in making ATP, explain why you think baby Helen is having the problems described above.
Helen is making energy more slowly since a protein in her ETC is misshapen. Her chemiosmosis isn’t as effective as a normal person’s. She doesn’t make energy fast enough to grow, or to store fat because she doesn’t have enough energy.
  1. Compare the basic transformation of energy during photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
In photosynthesis energy from the sun, water and carbon makes oxygen and glucose. But in cellular respiration cells use glucose, and oxygen to make carbon, water, and usable energy.(ATP)
  1. Describe the role of ATP in biochemical reactions. What is ATP used for in your cells? How do your cells get energy out of a molecule of ATP? How is ATP recharged?
ATP is used as energy to cells throughout the body. Our cells use ATP to grow and divide. They also use ATP to make proteins. Our cells break the bonds in ATP to get the energy. That will leave ADP and P. ADP and P can recombine to make ATP again if there is energy to make another bond.